ARMY WIVES - GETTING THEIR ACT TOGETHER

A few months ago there was a rebellion of sorts by an army officer's wife who alleged publicly that her perceived failing to contribute to activities by Army Wives Welfare Association affected adversely her spouse's promotion. As an ex-Army officer's wife I have analysed the core issue

If frequent moves, long separations, lack of professional opportunities form the weft of an army officer's life - respect, facilities for higher education, specialised medical treatment, eco-friendly cantonments, clubs, libraries, parks, pools, sport courts, gyms, saunas just name it - form its warp. Together they weave an exquisite brand that can most proudly be shown off as 'The Army Way of Life' – a smorgasbord of opportunities for all those who have come into its fold. The children too stand out as the smartest, the most adaptable and the most sought after, anywhere. It is not just a style statement; it is a trademark of being part of an elite posse of people.

Is it fortunate or unfortunate then, that the ladies in the Army who go by the popular appellations of 'junior' and 'senior', 'young' and 'old', don't come under the Army Act? 'Afflicted by the global malady of independent nuclear living are we taking our blessings easy?' is the question that has been going around in the Army circuits today. To sensitise wives to the needs of the Army and to help them understand how every little 'task' they perform is part of a 'process' that provides extraordinary support systems are the important agendas before the Army.

The recent alarm over the adverse remarks in the ACR (Annual confidential Reports) of Major Punyadeep Singh Paul, who was given below-average ratings by his commanding officer based on the 'couple's social interaction, including in AWWA (Army Wives Welfare Association activities), and subsequent airing of the issue by wife Savneet Paul , had raised many eyebrows. 'Army sources reveal that though the influence of the AWWA on an officer performance is not an official part of the promotions, this red herring had been trotting into ACRs and deciding an officer's fate depending upon his wife's performance at AWWA activities,' says a report in a well-known publication.

Why a large number of commanding officers have had to succumb to the great temptation of getting an errant wife into the folds of the AWWA activities by threatening the officer is another area that needs to be analysed. This particular incident has certainly made it clear that AWWA activities and how they are to be conducted need a fresh re-evaluation.

It is important to understand that the Indian Army, one of the largest in the world, is not revenue driven unlike many other organisations. It is people-centric. Women fulfill significant functions here, beyond the glamorous bon vivant role model. They have a whole bunch of responsibilities towards their unit and the organisation at large that they are expected to shoulder from day one, at times even at the cost of their personal careers. If an army wife is not aware of all the responsibilities awaiting her, she may be taken aback so completely that it may generate one of the deepest crises in her life. On the flip side, when she rebels and takes a stand against the ongoing processes she can be the proverbial spanner that sends the unit into a tizzy. For a new comer it is not easy to get this bigger picture.

AWWA's raison d'être is to provide maximum security and stability to the man out in the war zone by providing physical and moral support to his wife and children. It also envisages empowering the women in the process. Right from education, child and mother care to financial planning and assistance to widows and dependents, the AWWA mandate takes care of it all.

At the Unit level the officer's wives are expected to provide this support system 'since the men are so busy.' The commanding officer's (CO's) wife and junior officer's wives are directly involved in helping these women from rural background to get maximum benefit of their limited stay in the army. From simply helping a non-Hindi speaking wife to getting adjusted in the new environment to providing medical support (from pre natal to post natal care and specialist check-ups), educational facilities (admission to tuitions facilities) and vocational training to wives for any eventuality, the unit takes care of it all. The young and working wives who are entering into the army portals today have no time for shouldering this extra responsibility. 'I am working like my husband. The unit responsibilities are like an extra portfolio that I find hard to handle,' many say.

The core ambiguity lies in the misconception of AWWA activities being part of a voluntary service, when they are really not so. 'Because it's difficult to find a legal locus standi on the role and importance of AWWA, it is one area that takes a lot of flak from time to time,' says Abhilasha Extross from 9 Special Forces. AWWA responsibilities are expected to be conducted by senior ladies at the behest of the organisation and they need a committed team to make them successful. It is another thing that 'No' cannot easily be taken for an answer in this hierarchical system of power and this often leads to other unnecessary conflicts.
In the absence of a clear mandate many a chasm of misgivings are created between senior and junior officers' wives in fulfilling this role in the unit. 'This is more apparent in the recent years when qualified and experienced professionals have come as army wives and are unable to fit into this joint family system with its peculiar demands and expectation,' according to Aarti Singh, a Brigadier's wife.

An obscured view of the issue could be at the root of this problem. 'Impatience in a young wife and subtle power tactics employed by senior wives augment the great divide, so to say,' reiterates Aarti. 'The growing hoopla over showing 'tangible outputs' is another regrettable area of concern today,' according Neelam Bedi from Mhow. Then there is the growing tendency of organising grand shows for dignitaries which put undue pressure on working wives – 'These extra frills can easily be done away with,' she says.

'In an unorganised group like ours, where our needs will define and shape the future environment, the Army may be undergoing a grim change,' points Abhilasha. 'If more and more people live in isolation it will rip away the sense of camaraderie that stamps army life and this seems to be a growing reality as more and more professional wives are choosing to stay apart from their husbands.' It also means the necessary army welfare activities get substantially ignored and unfairly borne by a handful. Why then should the non- compromising lot get away with the benefits and perks become the bone of contention and this is where the officer becomes answerable.

Whether the new lot will be able to re-examine this entire package to make the end-game more meaningful is open to debate. Motivational participation to breed a sense of belonging that comes from pride, not prejudice, will perhaps be increasingly difficult to manage. 'We may not come under the Army Act, but we do need to put our act together to nurture the precious bonhomie the Army allows us to enjoy' is an outcry from the earlier generation of army wives who are totally devoted to this way of life. But the point is, how does one make it viable for the new generation of women who question its attitude in these changing times?